Agriculture, Farming and Fisheries

Food safety, security, productivity and sustainability are all areas where cutting edge statistical methods are playing an increasingly critical role. Food and environmental policies, and safe and efficient food production can be informed by appropriate data sampling and analysis. We help food producers and other organisations that rely on or support the food industry, to identify and apply the most relevant data analyses to help them tackle the many challenges they face.

Building a Sustainable Production System for the Future

Optimising yield with limited resources

Using bespoke statistical modelling techniques, we can help you understand the key factors driving yields of crops, livestock and fisheries as well as monitor growth rates and other performance indicators for arable, fisheries and livestock production. Combining these results with data on the resources available at the different production stages can then inform valuable cost benefit analyses to optimise both stocks and resources.

We can use data on the different aspects of your production (and delivery) system to help you monitor:

Environmental effects of fertiliser and pesticide use;

Soil and air quality under specific production settings;

Carbon footprint associated with your production system; and

Compliance requirements under various quality assurance schemes.

Understanding and monitoring diseases and pests

A healthy and resilient food production system is essential for a healthy society as outlined by the One World, One Health Initiative. Statistical models play a major part in monitoring disease resistance of new crops and varieties, as well as the prevalence and incidence of diseases. These, in turn, can inform the development of intelligent strategies for disease and pest control, both in the short and long term.

With resistance to antibiotics growing and the call to reduce their use in the agricultural industry, it is vital that appropriate information is gathered to monitor their current use and to model the impacts of reducing their use on effective infection prevention and control, as well as on the welfare of the animals.

From Farm to Fork: Understanding and predicting consumer behaviour

We can help you understand the factors influencing consumer preferences to predict future trends and the potential impact of changes in customer behaviour and diet on the food production system. Using advanced statistical modelling, we can compare different diet supplements or alternative production methods, and also identify the factors influencing consumer retention.

Uniquely organised and structured data

We understand the complex nature of your data, with its inherent organisation and hierarchy and its temporal and spatial dependencies. Whether you’re analysing the result of single field experiment or combining multiple trials, our expert statisticians know how to account for your specific setup without distracting from the key factors driving your performance indicators. From meta-analyses of multiple and/or complex trials to advanced regression models, we use tailored statistical modelling methods to help you optimise your data.

We understand the importance of well designed experiments, and can advise on experimental design and sampling strategies to ensure that the data structure is appropriately considered. Even for the most complex design setup, we can provide bespoke sample size calculations, ensuring that you have an appropriate and sufficient number of units, animals or replicates to detect the desired effect size prior to conducting costly experimental trials. We also offer expert advice and support in writing grant applications and experimental plans, providing you with the required supporting evidence.